A Moment of Bliss Read Online Free Page A

Blue Ridge Mountains beyond and Lake Anikawi below. “Better than nice. They’re amazing. That’s not a line either, by the way, but my honest opinion. Legend has it the sunsets seen from here can soften even the hardest heart, and bring love and prosperity.” That part was complete bullshit if you asked him, but so were most legends. Lots of visitors believed them, so who was he to point out the ridiculousness of it?
    â€œI’ve heard that bit of folklore about the inn in general. Bringing love and luck and all that. Do you believe it?” Madison leaned her elbow on the banister and met his gaze.
    She clearly wanted his opinion, but more importantly, a forthright answer.
    As the inn’s owner, he ought to weave in a little love and storytelling to improve a guest’s experience. As a boy who grew up at Honeywilde, hearing about a legend that had done nothing to help his parents’ troubled marriage, he had a hard time buying the myth. “No. The whole thing is mostly hype, but guests love the notion. Guess that’s all the reason I need to play along.” A long-nurtured bitterness crept into his voice, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
    Madison studied him long enough that heat spread over the back of his neck, then she gave him a quick nod. “I don’t buy it either, but most people eat up that sort of thing.”
    â€œWhat are those over there?” She pointed to the spattering of cabins along the slope, next to the inn.
    â€œThose are ours. We have a few private properties. Cabins, all heated with electricity, fully furnished. For guests who want more of a secluded feel.”
    â€œA compromise between an inn and a yurt.”
    She spoke the words with such contemplation, Roark had to chuckle.
    Madison cut her eyes over at him.
    â€œSorry. You just sounded so serious saying the word ‘yurt.’ It’s . . . sorry.”
    â€œThe word ‘yurt’ is cracking you up?”
    â€œIt’s not the word. It’s how you say it.”
    â€œYurt,” she said, insistent in her volume, putting her palm out as though presenting some serious research.
    Roark finally gave up and laughed. He wouldn’t dare say that the way she said “yurt” was cute, but it was. “I’m—” He cleared his throat, pulling himself together. “I probably had too much sugar from those cookies.”
    She stared past him, over his shoulder, her lips slightly pursed, the inside of one cheek sucked in like she was chewing on it. At first he thought he’d pissed her off and potentially ruined the whole deal, but then she met his gaze, briefly. In it, he saw the sparkle of restrained laughter.
    Madison wanted to laugh too, so badly she could hardly stand to look at him, but she flat out refused. And now he wanted to make her laugh. The goal felt like a mission, and he wasn’t going to question why.
    â€œIs there a finished lower level since the inn is built into the mountain?” She leaned over the banister to look down.
    Roark didn’t bother looking too. His view was better. “There is. It’s about a quarter of the size of our main and upper floors. It’s finished, with a common area, a long empty room that’s yet to have a purpose, and eight suites. My youngest brother has one of the rooms down there, but I’d rather open it all up for guests so it could be something of use.”
    â€œYour brother doesn’t need a place to live?”
    Roark clenched his jaw on what he was tempted to say about his wayward baby brother, Trevor. He went with the politer option. “He hasn’t been here in three months, so I guess not.”
    Madison quietly considered him for a moment.
    â€œI’d like to come back out here at sunset,” she said, gracefully changing subjects. “If the sunsets are all they’re rumored to be, maybe we should time the ceremony accordingly.”
    Roark grabbed at